By Aimee Roseborrough Most of us have similar resolutions: eat better, train harder, be kinder, etc, but how about a resolution to help the earth and make your life easier? I’m talking about using a menstrual cup. You can decrease your impact on the earth by not using tampons and/or pads anymore! Menstrual cups have become slightly more mainstream recently and several companies make them. They’re designed to be reusable, so you don’t have the heaps of trash. Also, you don’t have to worry about toxic shock syndrome. Finally, when you’re climbing outside, you don’t have to deal with packing out your used feminine hygiene products. But aren’t they hard to use? Not really. There’s a bit of a learning curve and during that time, I would recommend using panty liners or Thinx period panties so as not to ruin your undies. You can find videos online with explicit directions. An Australian blogger detailed her first three months using a menstrual cup, which includes some encouragement if all of this sounds alarming. After 6 months...

Looking for a chance to meet some cool rock climbing women and learn new skills? Flash Foxy’s rock climbing festival in Bishop, California, opened for registration this month. After just a few days, the organizers said they filled half the spots, so sign up soon if you want to go. The festival will be February 19-21. You can get all the details from Flash Foxy, including what sponsors are involved and what clinics and workshops will be offered. We’d love to know if any of you register to attend. Any other festivals on your radar for...

By Aimee Roseborrough The people I surround myself with when I climb starts at my most inner circle: my husband. Then it expands to include my children and finally, my climbing friends. Above all, I value a conscientious climbing circle. People enjoy different levels of noise and involvement from others while they’re climbing, and if we keep that in mind, enjoying a day on the rock with others gets easier. My Inner Circle – Just the two of us I must admit that I enjoy climbing days when it’s my husband and me with the whole crag to ourselves. Even though I’m an extrovert and very social by nature, I love peace and quiet when I climb. My husband and I have been climbing together for 15 years and know each other so well that we no longer even shout encouragement while the other is climbing. We have both come to the realization that we climb better in silence. We’ve learned an important lesson that everyone climbs best with...

By Martina Zandonella “Come on… Cross it! ” “But it is cold and the rocks are rolling on my feet!” My little friends and I nagged each other on. “Come on, let’s see who can go the furthest.” “Oh is so cold.” “One step at the time. Watch the current!” Many days of my childhood where spent on the side of a river called Boîte, in the Italian mountain range of the Dolomites, challenging ourselves to cross it. We would make some progress, finding the best spots to get through, most of the time turning back when the current was too strong for us, others finally making it to the other side. Once we had mastered the river crossing, there was only so much challenge and entertainment that we could find on the valley floor. The vertical exploration started this way. In a valley with beautiful mountains rising up on every side, we started hiking, clambering and scrambling up. Of course we would do this with the parents if they were with us, but most of the time...

Want to contribute to Rock Climbing Women? In October and November, we’re looking for stories about the people you surround yourself with when you climb. Tell us about the new best friend you made at the crag or the furry friend who cheers you on from the bottom. We want to know what it was like to introduce your kids to your passion. Whoever it is, they’re part of your climbing experience. At RCW, we love climbing because it’s active and fun, it gets us outside in beautiful places, and it provides ample opportunity to spend time with other people. From my personal experience, whether strangers or partners, the people I climb with are some of my strongest memories. I love the connections we make when we’re outside in remote places. To submit to the blog, just click over to our contributors page. We’re always looking for new contributors, so send us your idea and we’ll get the ball rolling. We look forward to hearing your...

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For Women By Women

A climbing site for all women climbers!

We are currently looking for stories. Stories can be your favorite routes, your favorite locations, your favorite gear choices. Even poems, photos and thoughts on climbing in general. We are just looking for authentic stories from all over the world!